TRB Special Report 207: Transportation Professionals: Future Needs and Opportunities Aware assesses future professional needs in highway and mass transit agencies in federal, state, and local government. This study also examines the role of consulting firms in satisfying the future professional requirements of highway and transit agencies. A large number of professionals who entered highway and mass transit organizations during the past 30 years are expected to retire soon, particularly those who helped build the nation's Interstate system. Unless there is careful planning, this loss of professional capability could impair the ability of these agencies to maintain the nations's transportation system effectively.